Chapter 418: The Scheme

"Old Yu, what do you say?"

Wang Lai spoke to the aged, dark, withered old cultivator.

Old Yu jumped in fright and waved his hands frantically:

"No, I dare not steal from the Lu family's mine…"

Wang Lai sneered, "What's there to fear? Bold men feast, timid ones starve. The Lu family rides atop us, making us suffer and toil for them. Yet they live in luxury, while we can't even afford a meal. Stealing a little ore—what's the harm?"

Wang Lai put on a look of genuine concern for Old Yu.

Old Yu's gaze grew wary, but he still shook his head.

Wang Lai's expression darkened, yet he forced patience: "Don't worry—the Lu family won't find out."

"How can you be sure?" Old Yu asked cautiously.

"We go at midnight, unseen and unheard," Wang Lai whispered. "Besides, I've bribed the Lu family's cultivators—they'll turn a blind eye…"

"That's a secret mine—the Lu family's treasure trove. Who knows what riches lie inside?"

"We won't take much—just a couple of chunks. Sell them, and we'll get a fortune in spirit stones…"

Wang Lai slowly lured him on.

Old Yu clearly wavered, but he glanced at Wang Lai and still shook his head.

He couldn't trust Wang Lai's character.

He knew exactly what kind of man Wang Lai was.

Wang Lai pressed on: "Aren't you short on spirit stones?"

Old Yu nodded. "Who in this mine isn't short on spirit stones?"

"You're different," Wang Lai said. "Your grandson has excellent spiritual roots—but without spirit stones to cultivate, it's such a waste…"

"Think about it—if he cultivates successfully, he can escape this mine, and his future in the Dao will be bright."

"But you're so poor—he has no spirit stones to cultivate. No matter how gifted he is, he'll end up just like you: trapped in this mine his whole life, bent over these rotten rocks, living a wretched existence, until one day he dies in some shaft…"

Wang Lai sighed. "If his spiritual roots were poor, it wouldn't matter—we're all wretched lives, doomed to rot in the mountains, no one to blame."

"But your grandson is different. If he doesn't cultivate, doesn't seize this chance, isn't he wasting his talent?"

"Spiritual roots are innate. Your grandson has one—this is a blessing rare in a hundred years. Not every family can birth a child with such roots…"

Wang Lai's expression was sincere, his tone full of regret.

Old Yu listened, his mind drifting.

Seeing this, Wang Lai's eyes flickered, and he whispered seductively:

"Don't you want to earn a fortune in spirit stones—to give your grandson, to give your Yu family, a chance to rise above?"

These words struck straight to Old Yu's heart.

His face twisted with guilt and inner torment; his withered hands clenched tight, his hunched body trembling.

He was a wretched man—but he didn't want his grandson to suffer the same fate.

We miners—we're doomed to rot in these mountains, forever bowed, never lifting our heads.

But stealing ore—Old Yu hesitated, still too afraid to agree.

Seeing this, Wang Lai sneered:

"Old age has robbed you of courage. Half your body's already in the grave, and you're still timid as a mouse."

"Forget it," Wang Lai sighed. "I only offered you this chance because your grandson's talent is rare. If he ever cultivates successfully, I'd get some benefit too."

"But you, as a grandfather, are useless. There's nothing I can do."

"Wang Er and Tang Wu are enough."

Wang Er and Tang Wu were two other miners nearby—both from large families with many siblings, never given proper names, only numbered by birth order.

Old Yu's heart jolted. "They're going too?"

Wang Lai said, "Of course. It's already arranged. Do you think one old man like you could steal enough ore alone?"

Wang Lai stood up. "If you won't go, fine—but don't tell anyone. Or you'll regret it."

Wang Lai made as if to leave.

Old Yu panicked and grabbed his sleeve. "I… I'll go!"

Wang Lai's expression was reluctant.

Old Yu's tone softened. "Young Master Wang, you're giving me this chance—I'll take less spirit stones. When my grandson becomes renowned in cultivation, he'll never forget your great kindness."

Wang Lai's face brightened into a smile:

"That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!"

He patted Old Yu's shoulder. "Don't blame me for being selfish—we're not family. No profit, no initiative. I need some hope too, don't I?"

Old Yu nodded in agreement. "Of course."

Wang Lai nodded, muttered a few more instructions, then left Old Yu's home. Turning the corner, seeing no one around, he spun back and spat on the ground:

"Old fool, still dreaming up nonsense—believes anything you tell him…"

"Cultivate successfully? Dream on."

"Born in a mine—you're trash. Even with the best spiritual roots, you're still trash!"

…

Wang Lai snorted and strode off.

On the rooftop nearby, three young cultivators in cloaks, hidden by concealment techniques, crouched silently, their small heads huddled together.

"That guy's a Wang Ba," Bai Zisheng declared.

Bai Zi Xi nodded.

Mo Hua nodded too.

"Should we take him out first?" Bai Zixi said eagerly.

Bai Zi Xi glanced at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua shook his head. "Not yet. Let's see what they're planning."

Bai Zixi thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. You're the junior brother—I'll follow your lead."

The three of them crept silently behind Wang Lai.

Wang Lai walked down the main road, strutting proudly, utterly unaware of what was happening behind him.

He had no idea that every move he made was being watched by the three young cultivators behind him.

After leaving Old Yu's house, Wang Lai met several other miners.

Namely, the ones he called Wang Er and Tang Wu.

"Old Yu has agreed. Are you coming?"

Wang Er frowned. "He actually agreed?"

"Fortune favors the bold. How could he not understand that?" Wang Lai sneered, looking down at Wang Er and the other.

"An old man like him has more guts than you two. You're young—how can you be so cowardly?"

Tang Wu was ready to protest right away.

But Wang Er pulled him back, signaling him to hold off.

Wang Lai's eyes darted. "You two haven't taken a wife yet, have you?"

Both men looked awkward.

Wang Lai lowered his voice. "There's this old woman in town who sells pastries—she's got two or three daughters, all young, their skin as smooth as fresh water…"

"Come steal ore with me. When we make spirit stones, I'll arrange a match for you."

Wang Er and Tang Wu were tempted, their faces slightly flushed. "But…"

"But what?" Wang Lai sneered. "If you don't earn spirit stones while you're young, how will you marry? How will you find a bride? Do you want her to suffer?"

Tang Wu immediately said, "I'm with you!"

Wang Er still hesitated. "You can steal on your own—why bring us along?"

Wang Lai sighed. "Old Yu's too old, too weak. My men have dug ore before, but they're lazy—three days working, two days loafing—and they don't know the mines well. That's why I came to you…"

After speaking, Wang Lai looked solemn and whispered a warning:

"You must not tell anyone about this. If you do, the Lu family won't let us live."

Wang Er and Tang Wu both grew serious and nodded.

"Brother Wang, don't worry."

Wang Lai nodded. "Then it's settled…"

"At midnight tomorrow, by the half-dead willow tree at the east end of the mine. I'll be waiting."

After giving his instructions, Wang Lai left.

After leaving, Wang Lai didn't go out to drink, gamble, or chase women as usual—he went straight home and slept soundly, as if preparing himself, conserving his strength.

Mo Hua and the other two returned to their cave dwelling.

Back in the cave, inside the courtyard, they removed their cloaks, revealing their figures.

Bai Zixi said, still excited, "Eavesdropping is fun!"

Mo Hua gave him a sharp look. "This isn't a game."

"Alright…" Bai Zixi paused, then asked,

"What do you think Wang Lai's really planning?"

"Murder?" Bai Zi Xi said.

Mo Hua nodded. "I think he plans to lure the miners into the mine shafts, kill them, then go to the Lu family for compensation…"

"First trick them, then kill them, then profit from their deaths…"

Mo Hua's voice grew cold.

Bai Zixi frowned. "So evil!"

He clenched his fists. "Should we kill them all now? Filth like this doesn't deserve to live."

But Mo Hua looked thoughtful.

"What's wrong?" Bai Zi Xi asked.

"I feel something's off."

"What's off?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"Logically, they kill the miners, fake their disappearances, then demand compensation from the Lu family—earning spirit stones from the payout…"

"But the Lu family has a rule: no body, no compensation."

"So killing the miners alone wouldn't get them any compensation."

"Even if they could get it, it would take too much effort."

"Wang Lai wouldn't risk murder for spirit stones that might never come…"

"There's something else going on here…"

Bai Zixi rested his chin in his hand, staring at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua blinked. "What?"

"How do you have so many twists and turns in that little head of yours?" Bai Zixi said.

Bai Zi Xi gave a slight nod.

Mo Hua held up a little finger and declared with perfect self-righteousness:

"Master said that for everything, if you prepare, you stand; if you don't, you fall. When something comes up, think it over more, and when you act, you must repair the roof before it rains…"

"Alright, alright…" Bai Zisheng said, a little helpless, "I can't out-talk you."

"What do we do next?" Bai Zixi asked.

Mo Hua shook his head. "I don't know either. Tomorrow we'll play it by ear."

……

The next day, at dusk.

The evening glow sank behind Luoshan, the twilight deepening.

Mo Hua and the other two had long since put on cloaks, hidden their figures, and found a small mound near the mine to lie flat on. They poked out their little heads, waiting for Wang Lai and the others to arrive.

As the night deepened, Wang Lai and his group arrived first.

There were four of them in total, all ruffians from Nanyue City. After meeting, they nodded to one another, the corners of their mouths carrying smiles of unclear meaning, but they didn't really speak.

Near the hour of Zi, Old Yu Tou, Wang Er, and Tang Wu finally arrived together.

The mine was desolate, beneath a half-broken, gnarled, and eerie willow tree.

The two groups of cultivators met up.

In the night, a faint cold glint flickered in Wang Lai's eyes:

"Tonight I'll lead you all to strike it rich!"

(End of chapter)